There was the quiet, thoughtful mother, now past her prime, but with many traces of the beauty and refinement1 that made her the belle2 of the little country town until Hugh Whitney, the strong-bearded soldier, who had entered the war as private and emerged therefrom with several wounds and with the eagles of a colonel on his shoulder, carried her away from all admirers and made her his bride.
Hugh had been absent a couple of weeks in Montana and Wyoming, whither he was drawn3 by a yearning4 of many years' standing5 to engage in the cattle business. He had received some tuition as a cowboy on the Llano Estacada, and the taste there acquired of the free, wild life, supplemented, doubtless, by his experience during the war, was held in restraint for a time only by his marriage.
The absence of the father was the only element lacking to make the household one of the happiest in that section of Maine; but the letter just received from him was so cheerful and affectionate that it added to the enjoyment6 of the family.
The two principal factors in this jollity were the twins and only children, Fred and Jennie, seventeen on their last birthday, each the picture of health, bounding spirits, love and devotion to their parents and to one another. They had been the life of the sleighing-parties and social gatherings7, where the beauty of the budding Jennie attracted as much admiration8 as did that of her mother a score of years before, but the girl was too young to care for any of the ardent9 swains who were ready to wrangle10 for the privilege of a smile or encouraging word. Like a good and true daughter she had no secrets from her mother, and when that excellent parent said, with a meaning smile, "Wait a few years, Jennie," the girl willingly promised to do as she wished in that as in every other respect.
Fred was home for the Christmas holidays, and brought with him Monteith Sterry, one year his senior. Sterry lived in Boston, where he and Fred Whitney were classmates and warm friends. Young Whitney had spent several Sundays with Sterry, and the latter finally accepted the invitation to visit him at his home down in Maine.
These two young men, materially aided by Jennie, speedily turned the house topsy-turvy. There was no resisting their overrunning spirits, though now and then the mother ventured on a mild protest, but the smile which always accompanied the gentle reproof11 betrayed the truth, that she was as happy as they in their merriment, with which she would not have interfered12 for the world.
That night the full, round moon shone from an unclouded sky, and the air was crisp and clear. There was not much snow on the ground, and the ice on the little river at the rear of the house was as smooth as a polished window-pane. For nearly two score miles this current, which eventually found its way into the Penobscot, wound through the leafless woods, past an occasional opening, where, perhaps, the humble13 cabin of some backwoodsman stood.
It was an ideal skating rink, and the particular overflow14 of spirits on that evening was due to the agreement that it was to be devoted15 to the exhilarating amusement.
"We will leave the house at 8 o'clock," said Fred at the supper table, "and skate to the mouth of Wild Man's Creek16 and back."
"How far is that?" inquired Monteith Sterry.
"About ten miles."
Pretty Jennie's face took on a contemptuous expression.
"Not a bit more; we shall be only fairly started when we must turn back."
"Well, where do you want to go, sister?"
"We shouldn't think of stopping until we reach Wolf Glen."
"And may I inquire the distance to that spot?" asked Sterry again.
"Barely five miles beyond Wild Man's Creek," said she.
Those were not the young men to take a "dare" from a girl like her. It will be admitted that thirty miles is a pretty good spurt17 for a skater, but the conditions could not have been more favourable18.
"It's agreed, then," remarked Sterry, "that we will go to Wolf Glen, and then, and then—"
"And then what?" demanded Jennie, turning toward him.
"Why not keep on to Boston and call on my folks?"
"If you will furnish the ice we will do so."
"I couldn't guarantee ice all the way, but we can travel by other means between the points, using our skates as the chance offers."
"Or do as that explorer who is to set out in search of the north pole—have a combination skate and boat, so when fairly going we can keep straight on."
"I will consent to that arrangement on one condition," interposed the mother, so seriously that all eyes were turned wonderingly upon her.
"What is that?"
"That you return before the morrow."
The countenances19 became grave, and turning to Sterry, on her right, Jennie asked, in a low voice:
"Is it safe to promise that?"
"Hardly. Let us leave the scheme until we have time in which fully20 to consider it."
"You will start, as I understand, at eight," remarked the mother, speaking now in earnest. "You can readily reach Wolf Glen within a couple of hours. There you will rest a while and return as you choose. So I will expect you at midnight."
"Unless something happens to prevent."
The words of Monteith Sterry were uttered jestingly, but they caused a pang21 to the affectionate parent as she asked:
"What could happen, Monteith?"
Fred took it upon himself to reply promptly22:
"Nothing at all."
"Is the ice firm and strong?"
"It will bear a locomotive; I never saw it finer; the winter has not been so severe as some we have known, but it has got there all the same; Maine can furnish the union with all the ice she will want next summer."
"There may be air-holes."
"None that we cannot see; they are few and do not amount to anything."
Here Sterry spoke23 with mock gravity.
"The name, Wolf Glen, is ominous24."
"We have wolves and bears and other big game in this part of the State, but not nearly as many as formerly25. It hardly pays to hunt them."
"I hope we shall meet a few bears or wolves," said Jennie, with her light laugh.
"And why?" demanded the shocked mother.
"I would like a race with them; wouldn't it be fun!"
"Yes," replied Sterry, "provided we could outskate them."
"I never knew that wild animals skate."
"They can travel fast when they take it into their heads to turn hunter. I suppose many of the bears are hibernating26, but the wolves—if there are any waiting for us—will be wide awake and may give us the roughest kind of sport."
Fred Whitney knew his mother better than did his friend and understood the expression on her face. So did Jennie, and the couple had such sport of their Boston visitor that the cloud quickly vanished and Monteith felt a trifle humiliated27 at his exhibition of what might be considered timidity. Nevertheless he quietly slipped his loaded revolver in the outer pocket of his heavy coat just before starting and when no one was watching him.
Precisely28 at eight o'clock the three friends, warmly and conveniently clad, with their keen-edged skates securely fastened, glided29 gracefully30 up-stream, the mother standing on the porch of her home and watching the figures as they vanished in the moonlight.
She was smiling, but in her heart was a misgiving32 such as she had not felt before, when her children were starting off for an evening's enjoyment. The minute they were beyond sight she sighed, and, turning about, resumed her seat by the table in the centre of the sitting-room33, where, as the lamplight fell upon her pale face, she strove to drive away the disquieting34 thoughts that would not leave her.
It was a pleasing sight as the three young people, the picture of life, health and joyous35 spirits, side by side, laughing, jesting, and with never a thought of danger, moved out to the middle of the river and then sped toward its source, with the easy, beautiful movement which in the accomplished36 skater is the ideal of grace. The motion seemingly was attended with no effort, and could be maintained for hours with little fatigue37.
The small river, to which allusion38 has been made, was one hundred yards in width at the point where they passed out upon its surface. This width naturally decreased as they ascended39, but the decrease was so gradual that at Wolf Glen, fifteen miles away, the breadth was fully three-fourths of the width opposite the Whitney home. Occasionally, too, the channel widened to double or triple its usual extent, but those places were few in number, and did not continue long. They marked a shallowing of the current and suggested in appearance a lake.
There were other spots where this tributary40 itself received others. Sometimes the open space would show on the right, and further on another on the left indicated where a creek debouched into the stream, in its search for the ocean, the great depository of most of the rivers of the globe.
The trees, denuded41 of vegetation, projected their bare limbs into the crystalline air, and here and there, where they leaned over the banks, were thrown in relief against the moonlit sky beyond. The moon itself was nearly in the zenith, and the reflected gleam from the glassy surface made the light almost like that of day. Along the shore, however, the shadows were so gloomy and threatening that Monteith Sterry more than once gave a slight shudder42 and reached his mittened43 hand down to his side to make sure his weapon was in place.
The course was sinuous44 from the beginning, winding45 in and out so continuously that the length of the stream must have been double that of the straight line extending over the same course. Some of these turnings were abrupt46, and there were long, sweeping47 curves with a view extending several hundred yards.
They were spinning around one of these, when Sterry uttered an exclamation48:
"I'm disappointed!"
"Why?" inquired Jennie, at his elbow.
"I had just wrought49 myself up to the fancy that we were pioneers, the first people of our race to enter this primeval wilderness50, when lo!"
He extended his arm up-stream and to the right, where a star-like twinkle showed that a dwelling51 stood, or some parties had kindled52 a camp-fire.
"Quance, an old fisherman and hunter, lives, there," explained Fred, "as I believe he has done for fifty years."
"Would you like to make a call on him?" asked Jennie.
"I have no desire to do so; I enjoy this sport better than to sit by the fire and listen to the most entertaining hunter. Isn't that he?"
The cabin was several rods from the shore, the space in front being clear of trees and affording an unobstructed view of the little log structure, with its single door and window in front, and the stone chimney from which the smoke was ascending53. Half-way between the cabin and the stream, and in the path connecting the two, stood a man with folded arms looking at them. He was so motionless that he suggested a stump54, but the bright moonlight left no doubt of his identity.
"Holloa, Quance!" shouted Fred, slightly slackening his speed and curving in toward shore.
The old man made no reply. Then Jennie's musical voice rang out on the frosty air, but still the hunter gave no sign that he knew he had been addressed. He did not move an arm nor stir.
"I wonder whether he hasn't frozen stiff in that position," remarked Sterry. "He may have been caught in the first snap several weeks ago and has been acting55 ever since as his own monument."
At the moment of shooting out of sight around the curve the three glanced back. The old fellow was there, just as they saw him at first. They even fancied he had not so much as turned his head while they were passing, but was still gazing at the bank opposite him, or, what was more likely, peering sideways without shifting his head to any extent.
The occurrence, however, was too slight to cause a second thought.
They were now fairly under way, as may be said, being more than a mile from their starting-point. They were proceeding56 swiftly but easily, ready to decrease or increase their speed at a moment's notice. Sometimes they were nigh enough to touch each other's hands, and again they separated, one going far to the right, the other to the left, while the third kept near the middle of the stream. Then two would swerve57 toward shore, or perhaps it was all three, and again it was Jennie who kept the farthest from land, or perhaps a fancy led her to skim so close that some of the overhanging limbs brushed her face.
"Look out; there's an air-hole!" called the brother, at the moment the three reunited after one of these excursions.
"What of it!" was her demand, and instead of shooting to the right or left, she kept straight on toward the open space.
"Don't try to jump it!" cautioned Sterry, suspecting her purpose; "it's too wide."
"No doubt it is for you."
The daring words were on her lips, when she rose slightly in the air and skimmed as gracefully as a bird across the space of clear water. She came down seemingly without jar, with the bright blades of steel ringing over the crystal surface, and without having fallen a foot to the rear of her companions.
"That was foolish," said her brother, reprovingly; "suppose the ice had given away when you struck it again?"
"What's the use of supposing what could not take place?"
"The air-hole might have been wider than you suppose."
"How could that be when it was in plain sight? If it had been wider, why I would have jumped further, or turned aside like my two gallant58 escorts. Stick to me and I'll take care of you."
There was no dashing the spirits of the girl, and Sterry broke into laughter, wondering how it would be with her if actual danger did present itself.
Occasionally the happy ones indulged in snatches of song and fancy skating, gliding59 around each other in bewildering and graceful31 curves. The three were experts, as are nearly all people in that section of the union. Any one watching their exhibitions of skill and knowing the anxiety of the mother at home would have wondered why she should feel any misgiving concerning them.
True, there were wild animals in the forests, and at this season of the year, when pressed by hunger, they would attack persons if opportunity presented; but could the fleetest outspeed any one of those three, if he or she chose to put forth60 the utmost strength and skill possessed61?
"Look!"
It was Jennie who uttered the exclamation, and there was good cause for it. She was slightly in advance, and was rounding another of the turns of the stream, when she caught sight of a huge black bear, who, instead of staying in some hollow tree or cave, sucking his paw the winter through, was lumbering62 over the ice in the same direction with themselves.
He was near the middle of the frozen current, so that it was prudent63 for them to turn to the right or left, and was proceeding at an easy pace, as if he was out for a midnight stroll, while he thought over matters. Though one of the stupidest of animals, he was quick to hear the noise behind him and looked back to learn what it meant.
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1
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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2
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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3
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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6
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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7
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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8
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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10
wrangle
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| vi.争吵 | |
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11
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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12
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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13
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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14
overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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15
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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16
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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17
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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18
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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19
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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20
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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21
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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22
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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23
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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24
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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25
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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26
hibernating
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| （某些动物）冬眠，蛰伏( hibernate的现在分词 ) | |
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27
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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28
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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29
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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30
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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31
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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32
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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33
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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34
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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35
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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36
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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37
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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38
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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39
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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41
denuded
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| adj.[医]变光的，裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
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42
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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43
mittened
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| v.（使）变得潮湿，变得湿润( moisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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45
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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46
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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47
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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48
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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49
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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50
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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51
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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52
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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53
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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54
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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55
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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56
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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57
swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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58
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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59
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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60
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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61
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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62
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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63
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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